Fear the Fearmongers

I've been watching Google stock over the last several weeks and have noticed an interesting group psychology driven by the news coverage of the last week.

For a quick historical perspective glance at the Motley Fool article from Dec 21, 2006:

The Worst Stock for 2007: Google

Next up - The Sky is Falling! Click-Thrus are lower ... Arrrg.

Google is not about ad revenue. I'll say that again for the slow learners. Google is not about ad revenue.

Oh yes, ad revenue is the current driving force for revenues. Note the word current. Google is an incubator of ideas financed by a rather large bankroll. Forget about the latest 'Facebook' valuation or purchased solution. Google is about transforming the way we interact both in a business perspective and social networking perspective.

Google Apps - what's the fuss?

Microsoft Office (per Jeff Raikes) could hit revenues of $20 Billion by 2010. It's $16 billion now. That's right, MS Office revenues are currently MORE than all of Google's revenues. Cost of the current suite is around $130. Google CAN charge for Apps. No, really. Googles greatest competitor for this space will not be Microsoft - it will be Sun. I imagine that the market space for this type of product will remain steady (around the $16 billion level) for the next 10 years.

The Future is so bright....

Back to the point about incubation. Perhaps just a listing of areas that Google is working will give you a better sense of what opportunities exist for this company.

• Google Maps - intersection of data and geography.
• Google Earth - being used by more governments around the world.
  
• Book Search
• Google Base - Craigslist without the last in, first seen garbage.
• Patent Search
• Google Health
• Android (phone OS)
• YouTube - ok first TV show a flop. Break down the barriers to subscription access to TV.
• Feedburner - if you don't see the value of RSS metrics integration into Google analytics, you miss the point.
• US Government Search - competes with FirstGov
• Google Renewable Energy - $10's of millions to make solar,thermal, wind - cheaper than coal.
• Search Engine - it is quickly becoming the oracle at Delphi. Fed Ex numbers, flight tracking, patents, Vehicle ID(vins).
• Google Apps - Think Education, Healthcare, Legal, Federal, Business.
• Google TV
• Google Wireless - spectrum for Google use or resale?

Ok - this is not an all inclusive list - I'm just tired.

Is Google just ad revenue? The future will decide.